EVERETT — Technology moves fast in the aerospace industry.
The training of aerospace workers, however, isn’t keeping up.
“We need to ramp up our training,” said Linda Lanham, executive director of the Aerospace Futures Alliance. “Technology is moving faster than we can train.”
In 2009, Lanham lobbied the Legislature for an aerospace training center that would coordinate with industry and community and technical colleges to deliver training to the work force. Although the Legislature failed to approve such a center that session, the Aerospace Futures Alliance and Snohomish County created one here in Everett last summer. Money — from the local, state and federal governments — followed.
On June 7, the Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center will hold its first class at the center’s location at Paine Field. A sister site is being established in Spokane.
The training center will start slow but will eventually offer both day and night courses. There will be training classes geared not only at prospective aerospace workers but also at those already in the field.
“We’re looking at offering certificate programs for the incumbent work force,” said Jerrilee Mosier, vice president of work-force development for Edmonds Community College. The college will oversee training efforts for the new center.
Some courses the new training center could offer include composites drilling and metalized bonding, Mosier said.
Industry representatives also have suggested the training center offer courses in supply chain management, galley service maintenance and cultural competencies.
“The training center will provide flexible and nimble training opportunities in manufacturing, avionics and composites that meet the fast-paced needs of the aerospace industry,” said Larry Cluphf, center director of operations.
Duane Schireman, a human resources director for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, sees a lot of opportunity at the new aerospace center.
“Once we get this thing going, it could be a good pipeline” of workers for Boeing, he said.
The center has received a $1.75 million appropriation from Washington state, a $600,000 federal appropriation, $450,000 of the governor’s Workforce Investment Act discretionary funds for its facility in Everett and a $250,000 Innovation Partnership Zone award from the Washington state Department of Commerce.
The Boeing Co. has donated $2.5 million for tools, materials and equipment that will be used to teach classes in assembly mechanics, electrical, hydraulics, composites and quality assurance.
The Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center isn’t the only aerospace training center in the Paine Field area. Edmonds Community College also provides aerospace training at the Employment Resource Center — a center established at Paine Field as part of the state’s proposal to land Boeing’s first 787 jet final assembly line. The state will allow Boeing to use the center for two more years, Mosier said.
Aerospace is an “industry that’s going to be here forever,” Lanham said. “We just need to keep up.”
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